Thimble.



C. UNRUH.

THIMBLE. APPLICATION msnvocr. 2,.1916.

1,2137%" Patented July 3, 1917.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 2/7 7 Z12 ATTORNEY ered when desired.

"tlhllfTE @TATd AENT CLYDE UNEUH, OF PAWNEE ROCK, KANSAS.

'II-IIIVIBLE.

Application filed October 2, 1916.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE UNnUn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pawnee Rock, in the county of Barton and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thimbles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sewing implements, and particularly to thimbles.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sewing thimble which is equipped with thread cutting apparatus so that sewing threads may be easily and quickly sev- A further object is to provide a cutting apparatus so arranged upon a thimble as to be capable of being actuated to cutting position by operation of the finger within the thimble. A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which has its cutting edge normally housed within the thimble, so as not to interfere with the fingers of the user, and also to prevent cutting of the thread or goods accidentally.

Still further objects reside in the arrangement of a thimble for this purpose which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is constructed of but few simple and readily assembled parts, all so constructed. and arranged as to prevent wear, breakage or derangement of the same, which is easy and positive in operation, and which will prove thoroughly practical in use.

With these objects in view. together with others which will appear as the description proceeds. the invention resides in the novel formation. combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularlv pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a thimble constructed in accordance with the inventi on;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the thimble. and showing the cutting mechanism in inoperative position; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2. and illustrating the cutting mechanism moved to operative position.

v Referring now more particularly to the drawing. 4 indicates the body portion of a conventional form at sewing thinul'ile which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3", ilfi ll't.

Serial No. 123,404.

is provided near its closed end with a laterally projecting housing portion 5. This housing portion may be formed upon the thimble at the time the latter is manufactured, or may be applied thereto very easily afterward. The housing portion is of substantially narrow width, and communicates at one end with the interior of the thiml'ile, and at its other end with the atmosphere.

Pivoted upon a suitable pin 6 within the housing 5 and adjacent one end thereof is a cutting member or blade 7. This blade is of a length to fit snugly within the housing so as not to project beyond the open outer end of the same, but is capable of swinging be yond the said outer end of the housing when it is desired to use the same. A spring 8 engages over a suitable stop or shoulder upon the blade, and operates to yieldably maintain the knife in retracted or inoperative position.

Secured to the rearmost edge of the cutting blade 7 in any approved manner is one end of a stem as shown, the said stem projecting beyond the inner end of the housing and into the interior of the body portion t of the thimble. The rearmost end of the stem is provided. with a head or button. 10, which is to be engaged and d eprcssed by the finger within the thimble when it is desired that the cutting blade be moved to operative or cutting position.

Normally, the cutting blade 7 is held retra cted by the spring 8. Should the user desire to use the cutting device. the button 10 which projects slightly into the interior of the thimble 4. is depressed, whereupon the blade 7 is projected beyond the outer edges of the housing 5 to cutting position. After being used, the button 10 is released and the cutting element moved to inoperative posi tion. it is thus seen that an extremely simple cutting device for thimbles is provided. The thumb of the hand to which the thimble is applied may be pressed against the body portion of the thimble while the finger within the latter is crooked or moved to operate the push button.

While the present disclosure is that of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that various changes in the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims, and the right to make such variation in construction is hereby reserved.

hat is claimed is 1. In a thiinble, a cutting blade arranged upon said thimble and adapted to be operat ed from the interior of the thimble to be projected beyond the edge thereof, and means for holding said blade retracted.

2. In a thimble, a cutting element carried by said thimble and adapted to be projected beyond the edge thereof, means for holding said blade retracted, and a push button secured to said blade and projecting Within said thimble.

3 In a thilnble, a housing communicating with the interior of said thiinble, a blade arranged in said housing and adapted to be projected beyond the outer edge thereof, a

push button connected to said blade and extending Within said thimble, and means for retracting said blade and push button.

4. In a thimble, a housing formed upon said thinible and communicating at one end with the interior of said thiinble, a blade pivoted Within said housing and adapted to have its cutting edge projected beyond the outer edge of said housing, a spring in said housing for holding said blade Within the said housing, and a push button connected to the rear edge of said blade and projecting i'nto the interior of said thilnble.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

, CLYDE UN'RUH.

lVitnesSes t N. N. CONVERSE, J. O. GOUTLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

